METHOD FOR PRODUCING A FILTER ELEMENT HAVING A FILTER MEDIUM

The invention relates to a method for producing a filter element (1), comprising a first filter medium (2), which has individual filter folds (4), and a second filter medium, which surrounds at least sections of the filter folds (4) in the manner of a mat-like filter jacket (6) that is composed of individual fibres (5). The invention is characterised in that, in order to form the individual fibres (5), a solid base material is converted into a melt that, with the addition of a fluid carrier flow in directed fibre form, is injected into or sprayed onto the first filter medium (2) via at least one nozzle device (8) in such a way that the individual fibres (5) solidify at least after contacting the first filter medium (2) to form the filter jacket (6), and in that, for a successive mat build-up of the second filter medium (6) during the fibre application, the relevant nozzle device (8) and the pleated first filter medium (2) perform a relative movement with respect to each other and/or the nozzle device (8) applies the fibres along the outer contour of the first filter medium (2) in specifiable spray or injection directions.